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TWO QUEENS IN MY CASTLE 3THANDEKA
I haven't been home for two months simply because I was busy. I don't like spending a long time without seeing my mother and even though we talked over the phone almost everyday, it still didn't fill the void. Today I have decided to spend the day and night at her place and hopefully get her to cook my favorite dish. I'm not even settled but she's already feeding me.
"I'm not hungry yet, mama. I'll eat later," I only take a bite from the sausage.
"You're losing weight," so she keeps saying.
"For the hundredth time mama I'm attending gym and I watch what I eat," I always have to explain to her but she never seems to get it.
"Alright I'll put the plate in the microwave," she takes the plate away and returns with two glasses of juice.
"We should go out sometime, just you and I," it's been a while since we had a ladies day out.
"Angithi you're hardly here," she says.
"I'm a busy woman mama and it's not like I don't want to come home. When I'm off work I need to spend time with Dumisani," my schedule is tight. I need to give my boyfriend attention especially because he's also a busy man and we hardly ever see each other.
"You should go see Ma Kabelo. She's ill and suffering from stroke."
"Stroke?" I never thought her stress would actually get to a point where she's hit by a stroke.
"It's been almost a month now since she got discharged from the hospital. I went there once and she's not looking good at all," this sounds so serious. Ma Kabelo is a really close family friend and a very kind woman. All that's happening to her right now is unfair especially because she's been through the pain of losing her husband.
"I'll go see her before the sun sets," I say. It's all worrying me and I wish there was something I could do but even with my nursing degree, her condition would still need specialists.
.....
....
It's almost 5pm and I think I should go there before it gets late. Their house is just down the road so I won't be needing my car to get there. I haven't been here for such a long time and I haven't seen her kids in a while either. The door is half open and I can only see the TV that's on because the living room is very close to the kitchen so I knock. Oratilwe gets the door
"Sis Thandeka, what a surprise," she opens the door widely.
"Hi. How are you doing?" I give her a brief hug as I step in.
"I'm trying. I believe you've heard that mama is unwell," she sighs.
"Yeah I heard that's why I'm here," she shows me to the living room where Kabelo is helping her put on the socks. She's wheelchair bound and it breaks my heart to see her so helpless. I don't even know what to say when she stares at me blankly.
He gets on his feet and greets me. He doesn't look okay and I cannot fault me, this should be draining.
"Hi mama. I came to see you," I sit on the couch that's beside her wheelchair. She smiles faintly and tries to move her arm. I hold on to her hand and it's so cold. I'm trying so hard not to drop a tear so I shift my focus to Kabelo.
"How are you holding up?" He just shrugs and sits beside me.
"Can we sit outside? I'm actually feeling hot in here," he gets up and I follow him. We sit on the stoep outside and he asks Ora to get us drinks.
"I don't like revealing my stress in front of her," he says.
"I get it. It'll only drain her more."
"I wasn't expecting to see you anytime soon. You're just like butterflies in the township these days, scarce," we both laugh.
"I've been busy that's all."
"At least you can keep your mind off things at work. Some of us are still job hunting."
"No luck since that time?"
"I'm really struggling to make ends meet, Thandeka. It's like I'm cursed or something because nothing seems to be working. I was hoping to sell fruits and vegetables but I'm struggling to gather the starting capital," he sounds emotionally broken.
"You can't give up Kabelo. There's a lot you can still try."
"Like what? Crime?"
"Of course not. Are you trying to get arrested and give your mother a heart attack?" He looks at me and shakes his head.
"I need money fast."
"I get it and I'll keep my ear on the ground in case something comes up."
"So how's it going with you?" His face finally lights up.
"Nothing much," I say.
"That can't be possible. I mean you look good and I can tell you're happy."
"I'm just happy to be alive and healthy."
"Is that all? If you asked me I'd say there's a man involved in this glow of yours."
"I don't need a man to glow up. I know how to take care of myself and I'm clearly doing a good job," I boast.
"Any man would be lucky to have you."
"These men don't appreciate so I don't go around stressing myself anymore. So how about you?"
"Me?" He shies away.
"Who's the lucky girl?"
"My life is just too complicated to be having a girlfriend. No one would put up with my problems at this day and age. You know how you women like money and it's one of the things I lack at the moment," he says.
"Look at you painting all women with the same brush," I chuckle.
"But it's true. I'm not going to put myself through all that and I don't think it's fair to bring someone else's daughter in my struggling life."
My phone rings, it's Dumisani. We fought last night and it was intense so I don't want to talk to him yet. I silence the call and that makes Kabelo curious.
"Why are you avoiding bae?" He saw the caller ID.
"Like I said, I don't want a man who'll stress me out."
"Are you okay, Thandeka?" My mood has changed and it surprises me that he's actually asking. It's been a long time since someone asked me that question except my mother. Not even Dumisani cares enough to ask me on my bad days. I was hoping I don't have to talk about my struggling love life but the flood gates are already open and I'm vulnerable, something I hate.
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